Today marks the fifth consecutive day of negotiations between the SPLA-IO and SPLA warring parties in South Sudan headed by Riek Machar and Salva Kiir, following a compromise proposal tabled by the East African IGAD mediators.

The proposal would maintain Kiir in the presidency and restore Machar to his former position as vice president, while the incumbent vice president would be retained as the junior of two VPs. Both sides have expressed reservations about this structure but have continued to negotiate.

A source at the talks in Addis Ababa said today there was a long meeting between Kiir and Machar and their negotiators lasting several hours until 2:00 a.m. last night. This morning reportedly the parties met separately for consultations within their own delegations.

Tonight there will be a meeting at 6:00 p.m. involving IGAD leaders and Machar and Riek, a negotiator told Radio Tamazuj. This comes after the scheduled IGAD Heads of State meeting was first postponed from last Thursday to Saturday and then again from Saturday to today.

In another development, the three governors of the Equatorian states -- who belong to Kiir's party but have been demanding adoption of a 'federal' system of government opposed by Kiir -- have arrived in Addis Ababa since Friday evening to join the talks.

Photo credit: Puot Kang Chuol/SPLM-IO